Franken versus Coleman, Christopher Hitchens versus theism (and/or) It is not enough to be right

A disturbing truth is becoming increasingly apparent. To whit – it is not enough to be right.

What do I mean? That just because you hold better theological convictions or your political views are more correct does not mean your side will prevail.

Take Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota. Scott Johnson just published an interesting piece on National Review Online in which he challenges the common view that Al Franken “stole” the election. Johnson – who exhibits considerable direct and inside knowledge of the election and the post-election recount – argues persuasively that Team Franken just plain played a better game and that Team Coleman blew it.

Do I think Franken is an idiot? Yes. Do I think Coleman would be a vastly superior United State Senator from Minnesota? Yup.

But Johnson argues Franken did not “steal” the election so much as he and his team just plain won. Johnson concludes:

I admire Coleman’s public service and believe he has been an outstanding senator. But since the election, the Coleman campaign has put on a performance that conveys a strong impression of complacency and ineptitude; the Franken campaign outhustled and outsmarted it. …

And I don’t think it can exactly be said that he won the election fair and square. Indeed, I can’t find a single good thing to say about him except that he didn’t steal the election. [emphasis added]

Read the whole thing here. You do not have to register.

Many Republicans fussed and still fuss about the presidential election victory by Barack Obama. They – okay we – complain (correctly I think) about gross partiality and bias on the part of the Mainstream Media.

But so what? What are we going to do about it? We have to concede Team Candidate Obama played a better game. Team Candidate McCain lost. Just because the other team cheats – or you think they are cheating – does not mean you no longer need to play brilliantly and your best. It is not enough to be right.

Recently I have read with interest about a debate concerning the existence of God between Christopher Hitchens and William Lane Craig. Hitchens is a well known atheist (and a good columnist) who argued against. William Lane Craig is an extraordinarily intelligent Christian scholar who argued for.

Here is the thing. From what I can tell Craig was right – but Hitchens won the debate. He just plain did a better job of presenting his case (and playing the crowd – and there is nothing wrong with that). Doug TenNapel summarizes:

But in my opinion, though Dr. Craig won the argument (he was the only one who even presented a formal argument), Hitchens won the debate. It’s not the argument of the debaters, it’s the condition of the audience that wins the day.

Read the whole thing here at Big Hollywood. You do not have to register.

Apparently there was a similar debate sponsored by Christianity Today. And one again it appears Christopher Hitchens did a better job of presenting his side. BabyBlue comments:

Note not just what each panelist says, but how they say it.

And listen to Christopher Hitchens carefully – not just his answers, but the questions he asks before he answers.

Note how Hitch speaks relationally while the Christians who says it’s about relationship is just making speeches. Also note how powerful it is to ask the questions before answering rather than just answering the questions for five minutes and how powerful one can use story pictures to make the point. Humor is also very important. [emphasis added]

Read the whole thing here. The video is here.

Two more quick examples. Look at the Episcopal Church. Do orthodox/conservative Anglicans believe that their convictions are more correct? That they have a better grasp of the Christian faith and of the Anglican tradition? Yes – and I agree. But who is winning? Who plays a smarter more aggressive game? Liberals (here – theological liberals in the Episcopal Church) are playing for keeps.

And what about the conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention? Moderate Baptists believe they were (and are) “in the right” – a better understanding of the Christian faith and of the Baptist movement. But who won? Conservatives had a winning strategy they did not mess around they played fast and hard and smart – and they prevailed.

(There. Now I have offended my Episcopal and my Baptist friends!)

It is not enough to be right. You have to play smart and aggressive. You need to present better. You need to do a better job of persuading your audience.

What was it Jesus said about being innocent as doves but wise as serpents? Exactly.